Quiet mouse

ABSTRACT

A computer pointing device includes an interface for communicating to a computer in response to a user input. The pointing device includes an inaudible moveable input that is activated by the user. The pointing device includes a resilient member with at least one electrical contact. The moveable input cooperates with the resilient member to engage and disengage the electrical contact from an interface electrical contact. Engagement between the electrical contacts is silent or inaudible in response to user input to the moveable input. The pointing device also includes a switching mechanism that converts the inaudible engagement of the electrical contacts into an audible engagement.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/776,081 filed on Feb. 11, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a computer pointing devicethat translates the motion of a user's hand into signals interpreted bya computer, and more particularly to a computer pointing device thatincludes an inaudible moveable input activated by a user.

Pointing devices, such as a mouse for example, have two primaryfunctions. The pointing device is used to translate the motion of theuser's hand into signals that the computer can identify, which istypically referred to as “pointing.” The pointing device is also used tosend user selection criteria from the user to the computer, which istypically referred to as “clicking.”

In a typical “pointing” application for a mouse, the translation isaccomplished by using components such as: a ball, a set of rollers, ashaft/disk assembly, an infrared assembly comprised of an infrared LEDand infrared sensor, and an on-board processor chip. These componentsare mounted within a housing. The housing includes a moveable input,such as a button, which cooperates with the other mouse components inresponse to a user input.

In one configuration, the pointing is accomplished by rolling the ball,which is in contact with the desktop and the rollers. The set of rollersincludes a first roller that contacts the ball to translate thex-component of the rolling motion into linear motion and a secondroller, typically set 90° apart from the first roller, contacts the ballto translate the y-component of the rolling motion into linear motion.Each roller is connected to a shaft, which spins a disk having a seriesof holes. The infrared LED and infrared sensor are located on eitherside of the disk. The holes in the disk break a beam of light comingfrom the LED such that the infrared sensor sees pulses of light. Therate of the pulsing is directly related to the speed of the mouse andthe distance the mouse travels. The on-board processor chip then readsthe pulses from the infrared sensors, translating them into binary datathat the computer can understand.

Once the mouse has been used to “point” to a desired location,“clicking” is employed. “Clicking” occurs when the user presses andreleases an input on the top of the mouse. A small fixed protrusion onthe internal face of the button actuates a spring which comprises anelectrical contact. When a button is pressed, the spring electricalcontact breaks the signal path. When the button is released, the springelectrical contact closes the signal path, indicating a user selectionor relocating the cursor to the users newly chosen position.

An optical version of the traditional “wheeled” mouse replaces the“wheeled” translation componentry of the traditional mouse with a tinycamera that takes approximately 1,500 pictures every second. The opticalmouse offers several advantages over the traditional “wheeled” mouse.For example, the optical mouse has no moving parts, which means lesswear, a lower chance of failure, and increased tracking for a smootherresponse. However, both the optical mouse and the traditional “wheeled”mouse have an audible “click” when the user actuates an input. Thisaudible “click” can be objectionable to the user and/or to others in thenear vicinity. This “click” can be especially objectionable, when theapplication the user is running requires multiple or successive userinputs, for example when the user is playing a computer game.Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a “clickless” or inaudible mousethat offers the user a variable click, or a choice of click or no click.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A computer pointing device according to the present invention includesan inaudible moveable input that is activated or controlled by a user.This allows the computer pointing device to silently communicate usercommands to a computer.

In one disclosed embodiment, the computer pointing device includes aninterface that communicates the user input to a computer, and whichincludes at least one interface electrical contact. The device alsoincludes at least one resilient member with a resilient memberelectrical contact that selectively engages the interface electricalcontact. The moveable input member cooperates with the resilient memberto selectively engage and disengage the interface and resilient memberelectrical contacts. Engagement and disengagement of the electricalcontacts from each other is inaudible.

In another disclosed embodiment, the computer pointing device includes aswitch mechanism that allows the user to switch between inaudible andaudible modes of operation. The switch is operably coupled to themoveable input member, and includes a guide that cooperates with theinput member to move the input member relative to the resilient member.The switch moves the input member closer to the resilient memberelectrical contact in the inaudible mode, and moves the input memberfurther away from the resilient member electrical contact in the audiblemode.

The present invention provides the user with a computer pointing devicethat can operate in an inaudible mode, and which offers the option ofswitching between audible and inaudible modes. These and other featuresof the present invention can be best understood from the followingspecification and drawings, the following of which is a briefdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a computer including a computerpointing device incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view, partially cut-away, of one embodiment ofa computer pointing device incorporating the subject invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view, partially cut-away, of anotherembodiment of a computer pointing device incorporating the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a switch and input portion of thecomputer pointing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of the computer pointing device ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the switch shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exploded view, shown in partial cross-section, ofanother example of an input for a computer pointing device incorporatingthe subject invention.

FIG. 7B illustrates an assembled view, shown in cross-section, of theinput shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a view similar to FIG. 7B but showing the input in adepressed position.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the computer pointing device of FIGS.7A and 7B with a switching mechanism for switching between audible andinaudible operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a computer 10 incorporating acomputer pointing device 12 of the present invention. The computerpointing device 12 includes an inaudible moveable input 14 that is incommunication with the computer 10. In one disclosed embodiment, thecomputer pointing device 12 is a computer mouse and the moveable input14 comprises a button, tab, or other similar structure. Further, itshould be understood that actuation of the moveable input 14 issubstantially noiseless, i.e., the moveable input and/or any otherassociated input components do not generate an audible “clicking” noisewhen actuated.

The computer pointing device 12 translates motion of a user's hand intosignals that can be read by the computer 10. This hand motion andassociated computer translation is referred to as “pointing.” Usertactile input to the moveable input sends user selection criteria fromthe user to the computer 10 and is referred to as “clicking.”

FIG. 2, illustrates a side-view, partially cut-away, of one embodimentof a computer pointing device 12 of the present invention. The computerpointing device 12 includes at least one inaudible moveable input 14which performs an inaudible “click” upon actuation. Actuation of theinaudible moveable input 14 occurs when the user applies an input forceF to the inaudible moveable input 14. The actuation of the inaudiblemoveable input 14 generates a user input signal that is communicated tothe computer 10 via an interface 16. The interface 16 includes at leastone electrical contact 17 for communicating input from the user to thecomputer 10.

The inaudible moveable input 14 includes a protrusion portion 18 fixedlypositioned such that the point of cooperation or engagement between theprotrusion portion 18 and a resilient member 20 is proximate to theinterface 16. The resilient member 20 includes at least one electricalcontact 19. This fixed position of the protrusion portion 18 is locatedproximate to the interface 16, providing for the inaudible engagementand disengagement of the electrical contacts 17, 19 of the resilientmember 20 in cooperation with the interface 16. This position of theprotrusion portion 18 relative to the resilient member 20 provides forinaudible engagement and disengagement and eliminates the audible“click” associated with a user input into a traditional computerpointing device.

In one embodiment, the inaudible moveable input 14 comprises a button.The user depresses the button to generate a selection signal. Due to theconfiguration of the resilient member 20 and the protrusion portion 18,the depression of the button is silent.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view, partially cut-away, of anotherembodiment of a computer pointing device 12 of the present invention.The computer pointing device 12 includes at least one user input member21 which selectively generates an inaudible or an audible “click” uponactuation. Actuation of the input member 21 occurs when the user appliesan input force F to the input member 21. The actuation of the inputmember 21 generates a user input signal which is communicated to thecomputer 10 via the interface 16 as described above. The input member 21includes a switch 26 that is operable to selectively switch between aninaudible and audible generation of the user input signal to thecomputer 10. The position of the switch 26 selectively controls thepoint of cooperation or engagement between the input member 21 and theresilient member 20. The switch 26 controls movement of a protrusion 23relative to the resilient member 20 to change between inaudible andaudible modes. Based upon this movement of the point of engagementbetween the protrusion 23 and the resilient member 20, actuation of theinaudible moveable input 14 will selectively change the inaudible“click” to an audible “click.”

The operation of the protrusion 23 and resilient member 20 is similar tothat described above with regard to FIG. 2. A user moves the inputmember 21, which causes the protrusion 23 to depress the resilientmember 20. The resilient member 20 includes at least one a resilientmember electrical contact 22 and the interface 16 includes at least oneinterface electrical contact 24. The actuation of the resilient member20 by the input member 21, selectively engages and disengages contactbetween the resilient member electrical contact 22 and the interfaceelectrical contact 24 providing communication from the input member 21to the computer 10.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the switch 26 for converting the inaudibleengagement between the resilient member electrical contact 22 and theinterface electrical contact 24 to an audible engagement. The switch 26,operably coupled to the input member 21, is selectively moveable withina guide 28 incorporated into the input member 21. The switch 26 movesthe point of contact between the protrusion 23 and the resilient member20 from a first position A to a second position B to respectivelyconvert the audible engagement and disengagement of the resilient memberelectrical contact 22 to the interface electrical contact 24 to aninaudible engagement and disengagement as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the resilient member 20 comprises acantilever spring 42 having a first end 44 held fixed relative to theinterface 16 and a second end 46 moveable relative to the interface 16.The resilient member electrical contact 22 is positioned at the secondend 46 of the resilient member 20. When the switch 26 is in theinaudible position B, the protrusion 23 is positioned closer to theresilient member electrical contact 22 than when in audible position A.Thus, when in position B, the protrusion 23 is located proximate to thesecond end 46 of the resilient member 20. Conversely, when theprotrusion 23 is in position A, the protrusion 23 is located proximateto the first end 44 of the resilient member 20.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the guide 28 is a track 30and the protrusion 23 includes a center body portion 32 and a knob 34having an upper surface 36 for selective tactile engagement by a user.The center body portion 32 is slidably received within the track 30. Abottom surface 38 includes a protrusion 40 extending toward theresilient member 20. The center body portion 32 comprises a slidereceived within the track 30 to selectively move the protrusion 40between the audible position A and the inaudible position B.

Further, a method of operating a computer pointing device 12 is alsodisclosed. The method includes inaudibly activating a moveable input 14to communicate a user signal to a computer 10. This method may alsoinclude the step of switching between an inaudible movement and audiblemovement of the input member 21. Switching between audible and inaudiblemodes of operation involves moving the position of the protrusion 23,supported by the input member 21, relative to the resilient member 20.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show another example of an inaudible moveable input100 that is incorporated into the computer pointing device 12. In thisexample, the inaudible moveable input 100 includes a lower housing 102that includes an internal cavity 104, and which is mounted to a base106. An interface electrical contact 108 is mounted to the base 106within the internal cavity 104.

A resilient member 110 is positioned above the electrical contact 108.The resilient member 110 is a disc-shaped member having a curved uppersurface 112. The resilient member 110 can be made of metal, polyester,or any other suitable material. Further, the resilient member 110 canhave many different shapes.

The resilient member 110 is depressed by a shaft portion 114 toelectrically connect an input electrical contact 116, which is eitherpart of the shaft portion 114 or is associated with the shaft portion114, to the interface electrical contact 108. The shaft portion 114 isformed as part of an upper housing 120 that encloses the internal cavity104. The shaft portion 114 is actuated by a button 118 (see FIG. 8) orother similar mechanism on the computer pointing device 12 in responseto user input. When the user releases the button 118, the shaft portion114 moves upwardly and the resilient member 110 returns to its originalposition.

In one example, the upper housing 120 includes a flange portion 122. Amount 124 includes a plurality of openings 126 that receive extensions128 formed on the lower housing 102. The extensions 128 are heat stakedto secure the upper 120 and lower 102 housings together and enclose theresilient member 110 within the internal cavity 104. While heat stakingis preferred, it should be understood that other attachment methodscould also be used.

When the shaft portion 114 is in an unactivated state, shown in FIG. 7B,the resilient member rests on the electrical contacts 116. When theshaft portion 114 is depressed, the center of the resilient member 110collapses, see FIG. 7C, and makes contact between electrical contacts116, 108 to close the circuit. When the shaft portion 114 depresses theresilient member 110, a popping, snapping, or clicking noise isgenerated. To eliminate or reduce this noise, a damping material 132 ismounted to the resilient member 110. The damping material 132 ispreferably mounted to the curved upper surface 112 of the resilientmember 110. The damping material can be duct tape, contact paper, or anyother similar material that is capable of damping noise.

One example of a computer pointing device 140 including the inaudiblemoveable input 100 is shown in FIG. 8. In this configuration, thecomputer pointing device 140 includes a pair of buttons 118. Under eachbutton 118 there is one inaudible moveable input 100, and one audiblemovable input 142. The audible movable input 142 is similarlyconstructed as the inaudible movable input 100 except that the dampingmaterial 132 is removed.

One switching mechanism 144 is associated with each button 118. Theswitching mechanism 144 includes a tab 146 that extends outwardly from acomputer pointing device base 148. An opening 150 is formed under eachbutton 118 through which the tabs 146 extend. The switching mechanism144 also includes a base 152 that supports the inaudible 100 and audible142 moveable inputs.

The user moves each tab 146 back and forth within the opening 150 tomove the base 152 relative to the computer pointing device base 148.This moves the inaudible 100 and audible 142 moveable inputs relative tothe respective buttons 118. Each button 118 includes a protrusion 154that will actuate the shaft portion 114 in the inaudible 100 or audible142 moveable inputs. The base 152 slides relative to the protrusion 154to place either the inaudible 100 or audible 142 moveable inputsdepending on the desired mode of operation.

It should be understood that the inaudible moveable input 100 could alsobe used with a switching mechanism such as that shown in FIGS. 2–6.Further, the movable input 14 of FIGS. 2–6 could also be used with aswitching mechanism such as that shown in FIG. 8. The foregoingdescription is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within.Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of thisinvention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the artwould recognize that certain modifications would come within the scopeof this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as specifically described. For that reason the following claimsshould be studied to determine the true scope and content of thisinvention.

1. A computer pointing device comprising: an interface for communicatinguser input to a computer and including at least one interface electricalcontact; an inaudible movable input including an input electricalcontact electrically connectable to said interface electrical contact inresponse to the user input, at least one resilient member positionedabove said interface electrical contact, and a layer of damping materialsupported on said resilient member; and at least one moveable user inputmember cooperating with said resilient member to selectively engage anddisengage said input electrical contact from said interface electricalcontact wherein said damping material dampens noise generated bymovement of said resilient member in response to user input to saidinput member.
 2. The device of claim 1 including an audible moveableinput and a switching mechanism for moving said audible and inaudiblemoveable inputs relative to said moveable user input member.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein said moveable user input member comprises abutton.
 4. The device of claim 2 including a base for supporting saidaudible and inaudible moveable inputs and wherein said switchingmechanism moves said base relative to said moveable user input member toplace either said audible moveable input for actuation by said moveableuser input member in an audible mode of operation or said inaudiblemoveable input for actuation by said moveable user input member in aninaudible mode of operation.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said baseincludes a tab extending outwardly from an opening within a pointerhousing, said tab being movable relative to said pointer housing toswitch between said inaudible and audible modes of operation.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said inaudible moveable input includes a lowerhousing supported by a pointer housing, said lower housing defining aninternal cavity for receiving said interface electrical contact.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6 wherein said inaudible moveable input includes anupper housing with an internal bore that slidably receives a shaft thatdepresses said resilient member wherein movement of said shaft iscontrolled by user input to said moveable user input member.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein said upper housing is secured to said lowerhousing to enclose said resilient member within said internal cavity. 9.The device of claim 8 wherein said moveable user input member comprisesa button having a protrusion extending into said pointer housing whereinsaid protrusion moves said shaft to depress said resilient member. 10.The device of claim 1 wherein said damping material comprises tape. 11.A computer pointing device comprising: a moveable input that generates auser input signal that is communicated to a computer; and a dampingmechanism that dampens noise generated by movement of said moveableinput in response to user input, including at least one resilient memberresponsive to movement of said moveable input, wherein said dampingmechanism comprises a layer of damping material supported by saidresilient member.
 12. The device of claim 11 including a switchingmechanism that changes operation of said moveable input between aninaudible mode of operation and an audible mode of operation.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12 wherein said moveable input comprises at least onebutton.